Gordon Ramsay, Dave Berry and Ashley Banjo join the Women’s Aid ‘Real Man’ campaign against domestic violence

Thu, 9th Aug 12

Women’ Aid is proud to announce the latest line-up of ‘real men’ joining their campaign against domestic violence. Charity Ambassador Gordon Ramsay is joined by Capital FM’s Dave Berry and Diversity’s Ashley Banjo in a series of ‘real man’ images being launched in the September edition of Cosmopolitan magazine, out 9th August.

The ‘Real Man’ campaign is in its third year, and this year the feature focuses on the impact of emotional and psychological abuse.

Women’s Aid Press and Publicity Manager, Teresa Parker, said:
“In an abusive relationship, while physical abuse can be horrendous, many survivors of domestic violence say that the impact of emotional and psychological abuse is the most damaging and long-lasting.  We thank Gordon Ramsay, Dave Berry and Ashley Banjo for taking part in the ‘Real Man’ campaign this year and helping us to raise awareness of emotional abuse in relationships.”

“The 'Real Man' campaign sends out the clear message that a 'Real Man' would never be abusive or violent towards a partner.  Women’s Aid wants to engage with men, the majority of whom are not perpetrators of violence against women, to support our work to end violence against women and children and to actively refuse to tolerate any form of this crime.”
“We thank Cosmopolitan magazine for being our partners in the ‘Real Man’ campaign for the third year running and for their amazing support.”

Louise Court, Editor of Cosmopolitan magazine, said:
“Cosmopolitan has always campaigned against domestic violence and we’re proud to partner with Women’s Aid for its ‘Real Man’ campaign for the third year running. Domestic violence does not always mean physical abuse. Sadly emotional abuse is also a very real and terrifying threat for many women in the UK – women who do not always realise they’re being abused and blame themselves. We want to raise awareness of the devastating effects of psychological abuse and that's why we asked celebrity men to get involved – to bring home the message that it's never acceptable behaviour or something all men do.”


If you or someone that you know is experiencing abuse in a relationship, you can go to the Survivor's Handbook at www.womensaid.org.uk or call the National Domestic Violence Helpline (run in partnership between Women's Aid and Refuge) on 0808 2000 247.
 

Ends

For more information or pictures contact:
Yasmin Bond on 0117 9157454 / email y.bond@womensaid.org.uk


Notes to editors
1.    About Women’s Aid
Women's Aid is the national charity that co-ordinates and supports an England-wide network of over 370 local organisations which provide over 500 services working to end violence against women and children. Keeping the voices of survivors at the heart of its work, Women's Aid campaigns for better legal protection and services, providing a strategic "expert view" to government on laws, policy and practice affecting abused women and children. In partnership with its national network, Women's Aid runs public awareness and education campaigns, bringing together national and local action, and developing new training and resources.

Women's Aid provides a package of vital 24 hour lifeline services through its publications (available in 11 languages), website www.womensaid.org.uk, and runs the Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline in partnership with Refuge.  Women’s Aid is a registered charity no 1054154.

With thanks to Cosmopolitan for the photos of our 'real men'. Photography by Antonio Petronzio